Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/197178
At the end of the agreement period, the supplier has the first option to provide its next-generation technology for a new agreement period. "This allows us to use and demonstrate the latest technology rather than be stuck with an older system 10 years later because we couldn't afford to buy a new one," Boulton said. DEMO SPACES Boulton said he hopes to have the first four spaces in operation with priority technologies for the 2014 harvest. Initial plans for each demo space include: + Space 1: Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane modules to filter captured rainwater + Space 2: RO filter systems and tanks to recover, filter and reuse water and cleaning solution from the winery's CIP system + Space 3: Carbon capture system to convert fermentation CO2 into calcium carbonate that can be used for other products, such as a drywall building material + Space 4: Hot water storage for cleaning and for in-floor radiant heating from a Cogenra rooftop solar system that provides passive hot water and solar electricity + Space 5: A PV solar-powered icemaker will be developed and used to chill water for tank and space cooling + Space 6: An electrolysis unit to make hydrogen from water, to fuel a hydrogen fuel cell, and possibly for hydrogen fuel cell forklifts + Space 7: A hydrogen fuel cell to generate electricity for night use and lighting. The space may also have high-density batteries to store power for night use or to supplement solar generation. The final two spaces will test 76 V I N E YA R D & WIN E RY MANAGEM ENT | other innovative sustainable technologies with potential winery applications. These could be research or grant projects from UC Davis personnel or students, or each space could have competing technologies operating side by side under similar test conditions to compare and evaluate each system. To fulfill the facility's education and research goals, each demo technology will be instrumented and monitored to collect data. "We hope to have video cameras in each room and streaming data so that anyone can go to a website, see the technology operating, and view data for the metric performance of each system in real-time," Boulton said. to think about what you will do in the future to have water to run your business." He noted that some sustainable technologies, such as PV solar and fuel cells, were originally developed for astronauts to live independently in space. On the International Space Station, all water is filtered and reused over and over. These are now proven technologies, and in spite of their original use, Boulton said they are no longer "rocket science." "These technologies all exist and are commercially available; it's just that they haven't all been put together in one place to operate a winery." PLANNING FOR FUTURE NEEDS photographer based in Sacramento, Calif., and has been a contributing editor for V&WM since 1990. Boulton's vision is for vintners to see these technologies in operation, and use one or more when planning future winery operations. He believes that in the future, these systems and concepts will be necessary for a winery to be in business. Winery financial planners tend to think in terms of return on investment, but Boulton said they are using the wrong criteria when it comes to sustainable technologies. "You should look at investing in sustainability like you look at purchasing fire or earthquake insurance," he said. "It doesn't necessarily provide a short-term return or payback, it's so you can still be in business 10 years from now." Boulton cited problems Barossa Valley wineries in Australia encountered during the drought of 20052009. Although they had space and could afford to buy more grapes, they had to turn away loads simply because there was not enough water to wash out tanks and process the next load. Water will be a major issue in the future for new winery construction, planning approval and daily operation. "Forget climate change issues and predictions," Boulton said. "Just based on population growth, California will have increased demand for food and ag production and increased water demand. You have Nov - Dec 2013 Ted Rieger , CSW, is a writer and Comments? Please e-mail us at feedback@vwmmedia.com. wine@hoyt-shepston.com w w w. v wm m e d i a . c o m